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A short stay in hel1

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A Short Stay in Hell
Steven L. Peck, in his story, “A Short Stay in Hell” focuses on heaven and hell to bring
light to the people of the world who have never been to either of it. Amidst introducing the hell,
the author invites extensive discussion on the matter that relates to religion, diversity, eternity,
and hell. Diversity is particularly extensive in heaven, but in hell, it can hardly be established. In
hell, the author meets the whites only. There are no blacks, Hispanic or Asians, neither are there
old and aged person. The only people in hell speak in the native American English and accent. It
is hard to understand that it is only the Americans who dominate hell. However, the author uses
this idea to contravene the expectation of the majority of people regarding their afterlife.
Religion understands the hell as a place full of torture where people will burn forever.
However, it has never crossed the minds of the many people that there lack other tribes in hell
except Americans. Johansson Soren is recently deceased Mormon. He is from Utah County.
Contrary to the expectation of his religious followers, Soren is received in hell. He meets the
demons and sees other Americans inside the hell. To get out of the hell, he has to find the story
about his life written in a book, which is kept in the library. As a Mormon, he understood the hell
as the spirit prison. This is where the people termed as unworthy go upon their death; according
to the Mormon faith. The righteous but unworthy people also go to hell upon their death. In the

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spirit prisons, the people are forced to wait, work, and learn. According to the ninth rule “Lastly,
you are here to learn something. Do not try to figure out what it is. This can be frustrating and
unproductive.” (Peck 34). This line indicates the view of hell by the Mormons. It is a place
where people go to learn; therefore, they grow and acquires knowledge. Surprisingly, Soren did
not believe that he would go to hell, but unfortunately, he is condemned there despite his deeds.
His presence in hell also contravenes his beliefs and that of others as they thought he would go
directly to heaven.
The story creates the un-endless dilemma as seen through Soren. While on earth, he was
aware of the spiritual body, perfections, and exaltation of God. His body was perfect. The hell
amazes as the heaven does. In this regard, Soren realized that God did not prohibit alcohol and
coffee. The floor of hell is filled with whites from the United States. “I began to think how
strange it seemed that I never met a single person of color. Not an Asian, not a Hispanic, not
anything but a sea of white American Caucasians. Was there no diversity in Hell? What did this
endless repetition of sameness and uniformity in people and surroundings mean” (Peck 45)? The
discovery in the hell is the invitation for all the Mormons and religious people to reflect what
opposite the hell might turn out to be. Considering the negative stance, the Mormons can identify
with the idea in the text in some ways. For instance, they can identify with the idea that hell is
meant for wisdom and learning. It is not eternal. The believers may be forced to rethink what life
means to them and whether life depends on the external influences. Nearly all believers believe
that there is after life, which depends on the present life. This gives the present life some
meaning.

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Surname 1 Name Course Tutor Date A Short Stay in Hell Steven L. Peck, in his story, “A Short Stay in Hell” focuses on heaven and hell to bring light to the people of the world who have never been to either of it. Amidst introducing the hell, the author invites extensive discussion on the matter that relates to religion, diversity, eternity, and hell. Diversity is particularly extensive in heaven, but in hell, it can hardly be established. In hell, the author meets the whites only. There are no blacks, Hispanic or Asians, neither are there old and aged person. The only people in hell speak in the native American English and accent. It is hard to understand that it is only the Americans who dominate hell. However, the author uses this idea to contravene the expectation of the majority of people regarding their afterlife. Religion understands the hell as a place full of torture where people will burn forever. However, it has never crossed the minds of the many people that there lack other tribes in hell except Americans. Johansson Soren is recently deceased Mormon. He is from Utah County. Contrary to the expectation of his religious followers, Soren is received in hell. He meets ...
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